Google & OpenAI dropped TONS of new features

Welcome, night owls. 🌙

OpenAI and Google have been playing Santa this week, dropping a bunch of new toys for us marketers to play with. Some are really good, and others are overrated. I've spent way too much time testing them all so you don't have to.

What's brewing tonight:

• Google releases Gemini 2.0

• OpenAI launches Sora for video generation + full version of o1

• ChatGPT & Gemini get real-time screen watching abilities

• 6 fascinating use cases of AI + marketing

• 3 AI tools I am testing (so you don't have to)

Let’s dive in!

🔍 Gemini 2.0 Is REALLY Impressive

The rundown: Google just released Gemini 2.0 Flash, and I've gotta say - this one's different. After testing it for our AI creative strategist project, it's the first time in a while I've had a genuine "wow" moment with AI writing. Try it out here.

The details:

• Available in Google AI Studio (pro tip: select "Gemini 2.0 Flash experimental" in the dropdown)

• Writes significantly longer content while maintaining quality throughout - no more quality drop-off halfway through

• Lightning fast responses compared to other models, perfect for rapid content iteration

• Follows complex instructions with impressive accuracy - less back-and-forth needed

• Native video analysis built-in for content creators

• Free to test out in AI Studio, with paid versions available through Gemini Advanced

Why marketers should care: 

If you're creating marketing content regularly, I'd actually recommend using Gemini in Google AI Studio over other options right now. The speed and quality combination is hard to beat. Plus, it follows instructions beautifully - feed it examples of your best content, and it'll match that style consistently.

🌐 OpenAI Releases Three New Features

The Rundown: OpenAI just dropped a few major updates, including Sora for video generation and a new $200/month pro o1 model subscription tier. I've spent the past few days testing them, and honestly, the reality is pretty different from the hype. Let's break down what's actually useful and what you can skip.

The Details:

• Sora is now available for ChatGPT Pro subscribers ($200/month) with 1080p videos up to 20 seconds

• The new o1 model is only available with the $200/month Pro subscription

• Canvas is now available to everyone, not just Plus users

• Advanced Voice Mode with vision lets ChatGPT see and understand your screen in real-time

• Currently rolling out to Plus, Team, and Pro subscribers (EU and some other regions coming later)

 Why marketers should care:

Let's break down each update:

Sora: Skip this one unless you're specifically in gen AI video production. Unless you’re working on AI generated commercials, I haven’t seen a ton of great use cases yet.

ChatGPT o1 Pro Mode: Yes, it handles complex tasks better, but most marketers don't need this. Save your $200/month and just get better at writing prompts with the regular version.

Canvas: This one's actually useful - and it's free now. The best part is being able to edit specific words or phrases without regenerating the whole thing. Super helpful when the AI gets 90% there but you need to fix little details.

Advanced Voice Mode with vision: This feature is impressive. Point your camera at your work or share your screen, and ChatGPT gives you real-time feedback. Super helpful when designing, building presentations, or working on your website - it's like having someone look over your shoulder giving instant suggestions.

📜 Interesting posts

• This creator found a way to use AI to generate endless image ads

• Lots of people are making money with AI faceless YouTube channels. Here’s how to start one.

• Target releases tool to help shoppers find the right present for friends and family

• These creators got 2.5M views on IG with entirely AI-generated content. Here’s their playbook

• COMPLETELY AI-generated UGC creators (not just clones) are now here

• Here’s how to turn product images into 360-degree videos

🛠️ Tools I'm Testing

PoppyAI

I built a massive board with 150+ static ads to pull from whenever I need inspiration. Super helpful for never running out of ad ideas. Here's exactly how I built my swipe file.

Gemini 2

I’ve been using this daily for content creation and honestly, it's impressive. The speed is what stands out - responses are lightning fast. The screen-watching feature is perfect for getting real-time feedback while designing. Plus, being able to upload and analyze video files directly is a huge time-saver.

Twelve Labs

Just started testing this one - it's an AI that can understand videos like we do. I’m curious about how this could change how we analyze video content. Will report back next week with more insights.